Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

This week, Governor Neil Abercrombie notified the State Legislature that he plans to veto certain measures, including a few proposed by local lawmakers.

The governor says the measures marked for his veto are found to have either policy disagreement, issues with the details of the legislation, and/or unfunded mandates.

For example, House Bill 318 looks to be in trouble. The bill establishes an inter-agency task force on vog to discuss the impact of vog on the people of Hawaii and find ways to address these issues.

State Representative Bob Herkes called the effort a “sounding board” for local residents to raise issues and become educated during a recent community meeting in Hilo.

The governor says the county level task force is “redundant with a statewide task force already in place to address the effects and impact of sulfur dioxide hazards in various counties and communities. It also places a mandate onto the counties and does not appropriate funds for the task force.”

Another bill that probably wont become law: House Bill 667, which creates the food safety and security program within the Department of Agriculture. State representative Clift Tsuji had high hopes for this legislation.

The administration says that “Although the Governor believes food safety is important, this bill does not provide any funding to implement the specified mandates, nor does it provide any authority to establish administrative rules.”

Meanwhile, Big Island Video News has received word that the Governor will likely sign SB 1154, a measure establishing the South Kona Wilderness Area on Hawaii Island.

The bill was introduced by Senator Gil Kahele, and stands out as a noteworthy accomplishment in a legislative session that grappled with tough budget decisions.

From Senator Kahele:

SB1154 authored by Hawai’i Island State Senator Gilbert Kahele will ensure the South Kona wilderness area,”rich with cultural, biological, and historical significance, remains in perpetuity for the future generations of Hawai‘i’s people”. The legislation provides a mechanism to address both the community’s interests in utilizing the area for recreational purposes and protecting the vast amounts of archaeological sites, native plants, and native animals that exist in the preserve.The lands included in the wilderness reserve area are at Honomalino and Okoe from the shoreline to 6000 feet inland and the Manuka Natural Area Reserve boundary extended to the shoreline at Manuka and Kalanamauna. The bill will prevent sub-divison of the State owned land and will also prevent construction of new homes or structures within 1000 feet of the shoreline. Unlike an earlier bill which was signed by the previous administration into law, SB1154 has no “sunset” clause and will remain a permanent wilderness preserve for future generations. Earlier this month Senator Kahele led an archaeological hike and tour of the South Kona Wilderness Area with 75 participants of the 2011 Miloli’i Lawai’a ‘Ohana Camp. The hike began in Miloli’i and ended at the ancient Holua Slide. To view pictures of the walk and see some of the area and historic sites that the South Kona Wilderness Bill will protect for future generations of Hawai’i’s keiki visit this link: http://ow.ly/5ulSv

The bill is expected to be signed into law on Friday.

The governor’s office posted all the legislation he is planning to veto on the Hawaii website. Governor Abercrombie must either veto or sign into law these and other bills by July 12, 2011.